Diesel Saab 9-3: MOT pass rate
67.1% of diesel Saab 9-3s pass the MOT first time, measured across 16,174 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 127,829.
Diesel against the other Saab 9-3 versions
| Fuel | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 69.8% | 20,130 |
| Diesel | 67.1% | 16,174 |
| All Saab 9-3 | 68.6% | 36,326 |
Why the fuel type changes the number
Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.
On the Saab 9-3 specifically, petrol is the strongest at 69.8%, and this diesel version sits 1.5 points below the 68.6% model average.
What it means if you are buying one
The diesel Saab 9-3 fails more often than the model average, so budget for the items that catch this fuel type and treat a fresh MOT as worth paying for. Check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.
Mileage is part of the answer
The average diesel Saab 9-3 had covered 127,829 miles at test, against 106,793 for the petrol. That is high mileage, so timing belts, clutches, suspension bushes and corrosion are the items worth budgeting for rather than the MOT itself.
Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Saab 9-3 page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.
Other Saab 9-3 fuel types
- Petrol Saab 9-3 - 69.8%